Disgruntled Nepal MPs threaten to withdraw support

Under immense pressure from home and abroad over the attack on two Indian priests at the hallowed Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal's three-month-old government received a fresh blow on Saturday with over a dozen disgruntled MPs threatening to withdraw support.

Under immense pressure from home and abroad over the attack on two Indian priests at the hallowed Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal's three-month-old government received a fresh blow on Saturday with over a dozen disgruntled MPs threatening to withdraw support.

A total of 15 Terai lawmakers belonging to the ethnic Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) party warned they would withdraw support to the Madhav Kumar Nepal government.

The MJF was the fourth largest party after the elections last year. However, it split after the formation of the communist-led government in May.

The MJF-L faction is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar. The MJF-L has 28 MPs in the 601-member interim parliament.

The revolt comes after the prime minister expanded his cabinet this week, inducting nine more ministers, most of whom are from the Terai party.

If the disgruntled MPs carry out their threat, it will spell trouble for the Nepal government that has already lost the support of the original MJF faction, and will re-ignite attempts by the opposition Maoist party to form a government on its own.